Ultima, who had been struck by Keter, felt disappointment more than pain. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As expected, family matters more to you than I do.

Ultima believed that he far surpassed Hissop when it came to time spent together and capability. Moreover, while Sefira would still have someone to replace Hissop even if he died, Ultima Trading Company would fail right away without Ultima.

If I had the choice of who to make my enemy, naturally, it wouldn’t be Godfather. It would be you.

Ultima had come to Keter with even this situation in mind. Just as a murderous glint was about to appear in his eyes...

“I told you not to stall.”

Keter had struck Ultima not because he said he would kill Hissop, but because he stalled.

“Does that mean... it’s fine to kill Hissop?”

“Did Godfather order it?”

“Yes...”

Keter had asked because he thought the only person Ultima feared was the Godfather, so he nodded when Ultima answered. But Keter still couldn’t understand.

“Why would Godfather want Hissop dead?”

“He didn’t give a reason. You know how he is.”

“He doesn’t have a grudge against Hissop, he wants to get at me. But that’s what doesn’t make sense. Why all of a sudden?”

In his previous life, Keter had never engaged with the Godfather like this. They might have helped each other, but they had never stood as enemies.

With disappearing in Liqueur as well... There's definitely something going on.

Even after bringing up every memory and forcing connections, nothing fit the puzzle.

“Some powerful people make others miserable just for fun or boredom, but Godfather isn’t that type.”

“Keter, this is how I see it. Ultimately, you must have gotten out of Liqueur with Godfather’s help. You never paid that price, and now he’s demanding payment.”

“Even if you’re right, there’s no reason for him to have you do it.”

When thought about it simply, it could be an attempt to force submission by creating a sense of danger, but Keter was convinced that wasn’t it.

If he were that kind of person, he would’ve done it long ago. Doing it now means he has something else in mind.

The easiest solution would be to go and ask him directly, but that wasn’t feasible.

He would be somewhere in Liqueur.

Keter could go to Liqueur, both physically and magically. However, he had been warned never to return there when he escaped before.

If I go back to Liqueur, I won’t be able to get out easily this time.

And that might be exactly what the Godfather wanted. A trap to lure him back into Liqueur.

“Either way, it’s annoying.”

For the first time since regressing, Keter felt troubled. Having the Godfather as an enemy was more troublesome than killing the queen.

Even if I fight him, it has to be after killing the queen. Did he see even that future?

This time, even Keter couldn’t come up with an immediate solution. The Godfather wasn’t an opponent he could easily antagonize.

But I can’t kill Ultima either.

Killing Ultima wouldn’t end anything. Ultima was nothing more than a messenger to begin with. Would the Godfather even bat an eye if he died?

As Keter agonized, Ultima suddenly smiled and said, “Keter, I thought you might be crazy enough to recklessly antagonize Godfather. But seeing you ponder like this, it seems it was all an act.”

“Shut up. I’m thinking about how to screw him over.”

Ultima stayed silent in confusion.

“When did he say Hissop had to be killed by?”

“He said six months.”

Ultima had deliberately cut the time in half. That way, he could secure time to prepare as well.

At the mention of six months, Keter was dumbfounded. “Six months? How generous of him. This is basically an open challenge to test me.”

Ultima thought the same. It wasn’t even an order to kill the crown prince, and giving a whole year to kill Hissop would have been far too long. Keter considered the worst-case scenario.

It feels like he suspects me of being a regressor, like the Syndicate.

There was no certainty, but it was the most plausible assumption. The difference was that he was far more coercive and actively trying to test Keter than the Syndicate.

Keter rubbed his chin.

That’s a bit of a shame.

In truth, it wasn’t that there was no solution. It was just that there was some regret.

This kind of human life has been pretty fun.

Others might not understand, but to Keter, his life up to now had been one where he tried his best to live as normally as possible. After all, if he truly put his mind to using the knowledge from his previous life, he could have become a Prime easily. Beyond that, by using information from his past life, he wouldn’t have needed to spend time solving various problems. The reason he hadn’t done so was simple.

There’s no satisfaction in that.

Things were only fun when there was a sense of fulfillment. However, feeling fulfilled was only possible when one had the leeway to do so.

It’s not that I can’t do it... It’s just annoying.

In the current situation, the easiest solution was to submit to the Godfather. In that case, he would certainly let things slide, at least for now. In that time, Keter could appease the south and secure Sefira’s complete independence. But if that were the plan, he would have relied on the Godfather’s power to revive Sefira from the very beginning.

“Hmm, I don’t like that.”

“Keter, stop contemplating by yourself. Tell me your plan too. You’re not thinking of fighting Godfather, are you?”

“I am.”

Ultima was shocked.

“Don’t panic. I may be a bit crazy, but I’m not an idiot. I’m fighting because there’s a chance to win.”

“Thinking there’s a chance at all sounds idiotic to me.”

“You can think whatever you want. So, what will you do, Ultima? Will you take my side, or live your whole life as Godfather’s lackey?”

“Godfather promised me freedom. Once this matter is over... Keter, think again. We only have to kill Hissop. I know he’s your family, but he’s just a half-brother, isn’t he?”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not that he can’t be killed because I cherish him. If Hissop is killed as you say, do you think Godfather will leave you alone? Sure, I guess he wouldn’t interfere with you anymore.”

Keter suddenly took the Godfather’s side, so Ultima couldn’t tell what he was talking about.

“But the same thing that’s happening to me will happen to you. He said he wouldn’t interfere, not that he would go easy on you. If you create a situation where you submit willingly, what will you do then?”

Ultima was shocked at Keter’s explanation.

“Ultima, my friend. Do you still not know him? What’s hidden behind that smiling face? From the moment you got entangled with him, you should’ve given up on the idea of living a normal life.”

Ultima was at a loss for words.

“You look like you’re wondering what to do, but I, of course, have no intention of giving up Ultima Trading Company either. As you said, Ultima Trading Company is playing a major pillar role in Sefira’s revival right now.”

“Do you really intend to fight Godfather?”

“No comment.”

Ultima became confused again.

“I’ve shown you everything I can. Now go back and live as you normally do. That’s the best advice I can give you.”

Ignorance was bliss. Unaware of Keter’s hidden intent, Ultima fell silent for a moment, then turned around.

“Keter. Remember that I hate living a life where I’m pushed around just as much as I hate dying.”

Keter lazily waved his hand in response. With that, Ultima left, and the moment Keter pulled out the communicator to contact Daat...

“An earthquake...?”

Along with a sensation as if the entire world were shaking, everything was dyed in light. The light was so blinding that nothing else could be seen. However, it lasted only a brief moment, less than the time it took to blink. When the strange phenomenon ended, Ultima, who had left just now, suddenly appeared before Keter and repeated the same words.

“Sorry to interrupt you while you are having fun.”

***

“Keter?”

Ultima called out to him, but Keter didn’t answer. What the hell was this now?

Did I regress again?

Keter never thought he would regret not having a watch. He couldn’t be sure, but it felt like roughly ten minutes of time had been rewound. Did something like this even count as going back in time? But that wasn’t what was important.

Judging by Ultima’s expression, it was clear that he hadn’t realized time had reversed. That also meant Keter wasn’t caught in an illusion. He wasn’t prone to illusions to begin with, and even if he were, he would notice immediately.

Ultima waved a hand in front of Keter’s eyes. “Keter?”

“Shut up and stay still.”

Read the room, Ultima. Time had reversed.

“O-okay. But I have to leave soon, so I can’t wait too long.”

From what Ultima said, there was no need to keep him standing there while thinking.

“Go back.”

“Huh?”

“Balt came looking for you, didn’t he?”

“H-how did you know that? You, you weren’t following me, were you...?!”

Ultima was shocked. As expected, he hadn’t realized time had been reversed. Seeing Ultima bewildered like that was rather amusing, and Keter wanted to tease him further, but there was a more serious matter at hand.

“Balt must have made you a troublesome proposal, right? No matter what that proposal was, he probably gave you plenty of time, didn’t he?”

“... That’s right.”

“I’ve more or less grasped the situation too, so don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry? You do know that it's the Godfather we're talking about, right?”

“Yes. Trust me.”

Ultima was left speechless.

“Trust me and go back. Live your life as usual, as if nothing happened.”

“Keter, I also—”

“You hate a life where you’re pushed around, right? So do I.”

The look in Ultima’s eyes as he stared at Keter was strange. Before, it had been filled with the desire to kill him, but now, fear could be felt.

“A-alright.”

Just as Ultima was about to leave, Keter grabbed his wrist.

“Your watch. Give it to me.”

“If you want a wristwatch, I’ll send plenty to Sefira.”

“No, give it to me right now.”

Keter borrowed Ultima’s wristwatch for a moment. Fortunately, it was a watch with a second hand. After sending Ultima off, Keter stared at the watch.

Exactly when ten minutes had passed, the world had not changed. Allowing for some margin of error, he waited another ten minutes, but everything remained the same.

“Now what the hell is this supposed to be?”

This wasn’t his imagination. Time had definitely gone back by ten minutes. It hadn’t been something he wished for. It had simply happened when his conversation with Ultima ended.

Well, this is far too unimpressive. It wasn’t even some great crisis.

In his previous life, time turning back had been tied to the event of death, so there had at least been a rationale that death served as the trigger.

But does that mean I can go back in time just by dying? That doesn’t seem to be the case.

This ten minute turn back in time just now fully supported that conclusion. Then what was the trigger?

“I’ve never seen bullshit like this.”

A regression phenomenon following the Godfather’s interference. It was fortunate that it was only ten minutes. If time had gone back by a full year, he would have smashed everything to pieces. Time advantage or not, everything he had built up so far would vanish. How could that not make him furious? Of course, if he were given one more chance, he wouldn’t need six months, but only half of that.

But I’m the only one who remembers it. All the relationships I’ve built would disappear.

He would have to explain everything to Daat again, and reconnect with the Sefira siblings and all the friends he had made until now.

“That’s too much of a hassle. I wouldn’t be able to do it again.”

His head itched. This was another kind of irritation.

“Regression I can’t control is seriously annoying.”

It would be one thing if he could at least control it. But time reversing regardless of his will? Nothing about that was welcome.

Just then...

Rumble, rumble.

“Are you fucking kidding me, again?”

He checked the watch. Twenty-four minutes and fifteen seconds. There was no pattern. Annoyance surged. More than toward the queen who had exterminated the Sefira family, more than toward the Godfather who tried to test him by taking his family hostage. This time, a vague fear surged, that time might rewind by an even greater amount.

“If it’s going to rewind anyway, then I’ll go all out too.”

Mandala. Time would be met with time. Normally, it wasn't a power he was permitted to use freely, but who cared when going back in time?

Mandala, deploy at full power!

When healing Ryse, he had divided one second into a hundred seconds. But right now, he divided one second into ten thousand. An immediate response followed. The owner of Mandala observed him.

—Who are you to use Mandala without a contract?

“Your father.”

—What?

Ignoring the owner of Mandala, Keter manifested his will. He issued a command to the time trying to rewind.

—How foolish. Time cannot be stopped by human will, wait, you are reversing time?

It seemed the owner of Mandala had mistaken Keter for causing the reverse in time.

—Ahahaha! Aion is finally cracking!

Aion? What was that? But there was no room to worry about that right now. The time that had been rewinding was gradually slowing.

It’s working.

Keter could feel it. This reverse in time was being caused by someone’s will. This time, it wasn’t just ten minutes. It was trying to rewind well over an hour. However, Keter stopped it.

Then, the sound of glass shattering was heard. As the reversing time shattered, it returned to the present. At the same time, the owner of Mandala left one last message, just as the connection was about to be severed.

—Pioneer, I support you. Persuade the version of me after the time goes back. If you do, I will surely become your strength...

The world turned off for a moment, then turned back on, and what came into view was Ultima.

“If you want a wristwatch, I’ll send plenty to Sefira.”

Trying to grasp what happened, Keter stayed silent.

“Keter?”

“Sure. Send a lot.”

The conversation repeated. Then, he sent Ultima on his way for now. At that exact moment, a reaction followed. Bloody tears streamed down his face. His vision was flooded with red.

I did stop the time going back, but...

He had prevented an hour-long rewind, reducing it to just a little over ten minutes, but the counteraction from using Mandala remained.

“Why the hell did this part stay the same...”

Keter had spent one minute to stop the time from turning back. To others, it was no more than a single minute. However, to Keter, who had divided one second into ten thousand through Mandala, it was the equivalent of 187 hours passing. Moreover, that was with his will focused without a single second of rest to block the reversal of time.

To put it in perspective, it was like sprinting at full speed for eight days straight, except Keter had done it not with his legs, but with his mind. If he had been an ordinary human, his brain would have been fried from overload. Yet, Keter merely lost consciousness.

***

At the same time, in the Samael Empire, a girl wielding a rapier and a middle-aged man holding a dagger were fighting each other. Though it was called a fight, it was closer to teasing. The middle-aged man overwhelmed the girl using only his left hand, with his right hand clasped behind his back.

“Your Highness, what happened? Didn’t you say you would defeat me in a spar and make me your subordinate? Are you going to waste this hard-earned opportunity for a match like this?”

The princess clenched her teeth. Her eyes were filled with confusion, and it wasn’t because the middle-aged man was stronger than she had expected. She was confident she could defeat him. Though the middle-aged man had said the spar would be only once, this was in fact their third time. Yet, this was different from what she had anticipated.

Why did the reverse in time stop halfway?

She had rewound time to just before fighting the middle-aged man, but the fact that it had not fully reverted came as a great shock. Her regressions had never gone wrong, from decades ago, when she first triggered a regression, all the way to now.